What is Typical?

As used in the Broadband Labels, Typical is the broadband performance most customers will experience during Peak Hours, absent outlying factors. Broadband performance measured outside of Peak Hours may exceed performance measured during Peak Hours.

What are Peak Hours?

The weekday hours of 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. local time are considered peak busy hours.

What is Download Speed?

In the context of Broadband Labels, Download Speed is the rate at which data is transferred from our broadband network to your GCI-provided broadband modem. This rate is often expressed in terms of megabits (Mbps) or gigabits (Gbps) per second. Higher rates represent faster speeds.

What is Upload Speed?

In the context of Broadband Labels, Upload Speed is the rate at which data is transferred from your GCI-provided broadband modem to our broadband network. This rate is often expressed in terms of megabits (Mbps) or gigabits (Gbps) per second. Higher rates represent faster speeds.

What is Latency?

In the context of Broadband Labels, Latency measures the amount of time it takes data to travel from your GCI modem to our speed test servers in milliseconds (where 1000 ms = 1 second). Even with good connection speeds, very high latency results can have an impact on the performance of certain applications, such as real-time gaming or video calls.

Why and how does GCI monitor its network?

We continuously monitor and manage our network and proactively measure speeds to deliver the best possible internet service experience. This monitoring information is used to maximize the performance of our network by identifying potentially under-performing areas to proactively improve customers’ experience.

How did GCI determine the Typical Speeds listed on its Broadband Labels?

Typical Speeds are measured by collecting data from the AK-Fi speed test function during Peak Hours (5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) by measuring the speed between the GCI-provided AK-Fi equipment and GCI’s speed test servers. Tests are run randomly and during peak network usage hours to produce the most conservative results.

Does GCI run speed tests from my connection and why?

GCI, like all broadband providers, is required by the FCC to measure and report the performance of the broadband rate plans we provide to customers. Our Broadband Labels testing system randomly selects customers’ connections from the various rate plans in communities across Alaska to periodically run tests to help validate that the results we are publishing on our Labels are representative of the typical customer experience.

What is the difference between the advertised plan “up-to speed” and the “speeds provided with plan” noted in the Broadband Label?

The advertised “up-to speed” is the maximum speed you should expect to receive on your respective plan, regardless of time of day, for the service to which you have subscribed, assuming your home networking equipment and devices are capable of delivering the speed provided by our broadband network.

The Broadband Label “speeds provided with plan” section describes the Typical speed most customers will experience during Peak Hours, absent outlying factors.

What’s the best way to check GCI Internet speeds?

You can measure your broadband performance including download speed and upload speed by following these steps:

1. Use a computer with an Ethernet port capable of supporting your plan’s included speed.
2. Directly connect that computer via a CAT 6 or better Ethernet cable to the highest-rated port on the GCI-provided modem.
3. Run tests against our speed test servers below.

Please note: Speed tests performed on older computers, smartphones, tablets, etc. and/or using different websites at different times will likely produce lower results due to outlying factors beyond GCI’s control.

Alternatively, you can measure your broadband performance by using GCI’s AK-Fi App for iOS or Android, where available. Our AK-Fi App measures the speed at your AK-Fi equipment rather than at an individual device connected to your network, which is limited by the slower speeds of WiFi and/or older devices that are not capable of achieving the full GCI-provided speed.

Important note for 2 Gig and higher plans: 2 Gig and 2.5 Gig plans may show a lower speed test result in the AK-Fi app due to the limitation of the speed test applet. This is purely a limitation of the speed test applet and not a true indication of the speed experience.

Don’t have AK-Fi yet? Learn more:

AK-Fi Home for residential customers

AK-Fi Work for business customers

If you suspect there is a performance issue with your service, please call GCI Customer Service at (800) 800-4800.

red Unlimited, red Unlimited+, Fastest Unlimited+, Faster Unlimited+ plans:

Enjoy unlimited data on red Unlimited, red Unlimited+, Fastest Unlimited+, Faster Unlimited+ internet plans. Service intended for residential use only. Reasonable use limits apply. See terms of service.

Fast+, Fast, Faster, and Fastest:

On Fast+, Fast, Faster, and Fastest plans, once you have used 100% of the data included in your plan, you can continue enjoying your service at a reduced speed, or you can buy an additional usage bucket. View full terms & conditions.

Returned Check Fee: $30.00
Unreturned Equipment Fee: $120.00